Oil prices remain stable

LONDON, April 15 (Reuters): Oil prices were broadly stable after steep falls in the previous session as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remained constrained, countering expectations of US-Iran talks aimed at ending the war in the Middle East.
Forty-five days after Iran's Revolutionary Guards declared the strait closed, effectively shutting in about 20 per cent of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, transit through the waterway remains at only a fraction of the 130-plus daily crossings seen before the war, sources said on Tuesday.
The US has enacted a blockade of shipping leaving Iranian ports that its military said on Wednesday has completely halted trade going in and out of the country by sea.
Brent crude ?futures were up 49 cents, or 0.5 per cent, at $95.28 a barrel at 1315 GMT, after falling around 5 per cent in the previous session. US West Texas Intermediate crude was up 9 cents, or 0.1 per cent, at $91.37. The contract had dropped 8 per cent the session before.
"I think you're going to be watching an amazing two days ahead," US President Donald Trump told ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl, according to a post by the reporter on X, adding he did not think it would be necessary to extend a two-week ceasefire that expires next week.
Stock indices rallied on Tuesday on increasing optimism about the prospects for a resolution of the conflict. Trump said talks with Tehran could resume this week after ending over the weekend without any agreement.